The 2018 Badger Sponsorship Finalists: Vote For Your Favorite

And then there were twelve.

The 2018 Badger Sponsorship received nearly double the number of submissions than last year. This year we reviewed 108 video submissions, smashing our previous record of 58.

The Trek Committee painstakingly examined these videos and voted on their favorites, and the 12 videos with the highest score now go onto the final round.  To put this in perspective, just one of every nine videos made the cut.  As you can imagine, a lot of truly exceptional videos did not make it to the final round.

Before we unveil this year’s finalists, I want to offer a sincere congratulations to EVERYONE who entered. The energy you put into your video—courage, vulnerability, resourcefulness, and heart—is the same that will take you the distance on the trail. Do not let yourself feel discouraged, 2018 is your year.

The Finalists

As a reminder, this year’s Badger Sponsorship winners are determined by a combination of a Reader Vote (30%) and our Expert Panel (70%). Voting ends at 10:00pm EST on Tuesday, January 23!  The winner will be announced on Wednesday, January 24th, here on The Trek.

The 12 finalist videos are below, with the official voting form below that.  If you’re having trouble viewing the poll below, you can vote here. Note that the form allows you to vote for more than one video, for those of you having a massive conflict.

Annah

Blake Augustine

Danny Meija

Erik Jarvi

Federico

IBTAT

Jason Holman

John and Kelsey

Lizzie

Nhandi Singleton

Rachel Thomson

Tahyana

Last but not least, a GINORMOUS thank you to this year’s participating brands, who <3 thru-hikers very much.  Without you, there is no Badger Sponsorship.  Please take a minute to visit the below websites and consider buying their very high quality products. 

 

altra logo

rei-logo

 

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Comments 35

  • Rodolfo Arredondo : Jan 17th

    Nice

    Reply
  • Cynthia Arroyo : Jan 17th

    Amazing!!

    Reply
    • Eduardo Moreno : Jan 17th

      Suerte

      Reply
  • LaChelle Cooper : Jan 17th

    I am super excited to have someone who looks like me and represents me as I also grew up in Baltimore’s inner city. I think Nhandi will be able to bring a wealth of Knowledge and accomplishment back to the city with her and EXPOSE little black boys and girls and give them the Power that they Too can do anything that they put their minds to. As long as she carries God in heart…..well SHE’S GOT HEART!

    Reply
  • TINA AUGUSTINE : Jan 17th

    Blake Augustine, your Dad would have been proud of you …and so am I!

    Reply
  • CHARLIE HUGHES : Jan 17th

    I’m voting for Blake!

    Reply
  • Marco : Jan 17th

    Nice

    Reply
  • Himelda Alyo : Jan 17th

    Jason Holman has my vote. You are amazing Jay bird!

    Reply
    • Ruth morley : Jan 18th

      I was very impressed by his recovery and what he’s doing with the life he reclaimed. Hats off to him, and he’s got my vote.

      Reply
  • Valdelania : Jan 17th

    Federico, tem meu voto seu vídeo está perfeito.

    Reply
  • Katby K : Jan 17th

    Blake, I cannot think of anyone more deserving tham you. You were always there for your dad right until the end. I am sure he is giving you a grin and a nod,looking down so proud of you!

    Reply
  • Rachelle Walker : Jan 17th

    Good luck. I pray that you get it!

    Reply
  • Rachelle Walker : Jan 17th

    Good luck Blake! I pray that you get it!

    Reply
  • Roxie Popa : Jan 17th

    I voted for Blake. Good luck to you and God bless.

    Reply
  • Clau : Jan 18th

    Good luck thayanna

    Reply
    • Elvia Meléndez Amezcua : Jan 21st

      Muchísima suerte, Dios te bendiga!!

      Reply
  • Addy Cazadero : Jan 18th

    Suerte Thayanna

    Reply
  • Jeff Needham : Jan 18th

    I.B.T.A.T. all the way.
    ….and R.P.W.T…his sidekick.

    Reply
    • Stef : Jan 19th

      IBTAT- I love your energy! I hope to see you on trail! Good luck

      Reply
    • jeffrery becerra : Jan 24th

      I like this guy, he reminds me of my cousins, to often we don’t look past looks, but in hiking,
      it not looks or words, and you know this or you would not have given him this chance.
      so I would vote for him to win this, after all in life we get a start date and a dash
      and you get the finish date when your done not all will try the A. T. in there dash of life.
      good luck IBTAT

      Reply
  • Francisco García : Jan 18th

    Vamos Thayana

    Reply
  • Pony : Jan 18th

    Tough, tough choice. I’m biased toward the AT (though soon hope to be equally biased toward the PCT) and I confess that I like anyone who will stand up for pibbles. Good luck and great hiking to all the aspirants; it will be the experience of a lifetime, if you are anything like me.

    Reply
  • Caro : Jan 18th

    Lizzie you are amazingly resilient and creative – and kind too!
    You’d deserve this peice of luck. ?

    Reply
  • Carlos : Jan 18th

    I voted for Thayana

    Reply
    • Carlos : Jan 18th

      I voted for Thayana

      Reply
  • Mike Matesky : Jan 18th

    I voted for Rachel Thomson as she is a wonderful young woman.

    Reply
  • Mike Matesky : Jan 18th

    I voted for Rachel Thomson. She is a wonderful young woman.

    Reply
  • Retired firefighter Tim Andrew : Jan 19th

    https://youtu.be/NG9eP6PZczE Blake, looks like we are both doing this for a great cause… …I have money to do this, you don’t, you deserve it… hope you do well on this contest, and see you on the trail. Tim Andrew

    Reply
  • Jasmin Frane : Jan 19th

    #teamLizzie

    Reply
  • Rudnei Costa caldas : Jan 19th

    Muita força de vontade, isso move o mundo.

    Reply
  • Cristian Lara : Jan 20th

    Eu votei no Federico!

    Reply
  • Ray : Jan 23rd

    IBTAT is hilarious. that dude is an original….. hope the AT is ready for him!!

    Reply
  • Nate Kolb : Jan 23rd

    Good luck Blake!

    Reply
  • D Dog : Jan 24th

    Where are the videos ???

    Reply
  • Lisa : Jan 25th

    Great videos and congratulations to the winners! Would love to be able to follow these guys on social media if you’re able to share.

    Reply

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